AHL Hershey Bears

Gernander returns, Conacher is the boss in Utah

Published on June 29, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The biggest news in the AHL this week is the naming of Pat Conacher as the head coach of the Utah Grizzlies. Conacher, 45, stepped down as an assistant coach with the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes to take the job. He played 13 years in the NHL with the Rangers, Devils, Oilers, Kings, Flames and Islanders. He won a Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 1984. His assistant coach will be Gord Dineen.

The eternal New York Ranger prospect returns. Ken Gernander, who has been the only captain the Hartford Wolfpack have ever had, will return to central Connecticut for 2004-05. Gernander has been in the Rangers organization dating back to the Binghamton Ranger days, and has also been with the Blueshirts longer than any other active player. This will be his 11th season with the Rangers overall.

News out of Manitoba suggests that former Winnipeg Jet and current Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Scott Arniel could be in line for the vacant head coaching position with the Manitoba Moose. An article by Kevin Oklobzija in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle last week said that current Rochester head coach Randy Cunneyworth could very well be promoted to Buffalo as an assistant coach if Arniel leaves. "It's a level I eventually want to be at and it would be quite enjoyable", Cunneyworth told the paper. The Amerks' bench boss played 16 years in the NHL, but has yet to coach there.

There will be an "old school" third jersey in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's arsenal next season. The club unveiled a third jersey with the currently used WB logo, but it appears on the old navy and power blue jersey used by the Pittsburgh Penguins between 1977 and 1979.

A lot of news will probably be brewing in time for next week's column. The free agency period begins this Thursday, when players can begin to sign with other clubs.

Another jam packed mailbag this week begins with a secondary affiliation question from Hanover....

Hi John

There's been some speculation that the Bears will hook up with a secondary NHL affiliate next year like they did with Tampa Bay last season. Obviously Tampa is out of the mix, as is Phoenix, Chicago, etc. Just wondering, are there any NHL teams that have not yet locked up their AHL connection, that might be interested in sending players to

Hershey?

Terry Petry

Hanover

Terry, at this point it appears unlikely that a full-blown secondary affiliation will happen. There just aren't any teams out there that are at the end of their deals. However, if there are a couple of players out there available on loan from another organization that could help the BEARS, rest assured that GM Doug Yingst will find them. There are VERY few teams in the AHL that really try and better themselves through getting players on loan from other NHL organizations, and I don't think any team benefits more than HERSHEY in that department. As always, keep an eye out this summer for the latest news, and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Hey John,

Greetings from all the Bears fans in Lancaster County.

I know this comes up every summer because of the player deals...

Who is / are the owners of the Hershey Bears Hockey Club? I think it is one of the HERCO companies but who is the real owner. I have always heard it was the Milton Hershey School. And, what kind of imput/ influence do the owners have in running the team? Does GM Yingst make decisions independent of the affiliation?

Thanks,

Keith Winters

Lititz

PS: Keep us in mind as we struggle with those friends and co-workers who have gone over to the dark side. You can't imagine what the last season was like after going 0-12.

First of all Keith, thank you for remaining strong in the face of dark side adversity. Be sure to remind the Phantom menace that these things have a way of evening themselves out (also remind them of how many Cup banners they have, that's always a favorite of mine). Back to the question at hand, the BEARS are owned by HERSHEY Entertainment and Resorts company which is tied to Milton Hershey School. The company runs HERSHEYPARK, the STAR PAVILION and HERSHEYPARK STADIUM in addition to GIANT CENTER as well as other interests here in Derry Township. As to your question about owners and influence, we as an organization have budgets to live with, but the hockey decisions are made by President/GM Doug Yingst in conjunction with the Colorado Avalanche. Doug can absolutely made decisions independent of the affiliation, but it's best to work in harmony with the parent club in Denver. For example, the Tampa Bay affiliation was all about Doug working hand in hand with Jay Feaster, but he kept Colorado in the loop of what he was doing. We sign a lot of players over the course of a season (more last season because of injuries and call-ups) that Colorado may not know anything about before we bring them in. That's where having a good general manager can make a difference at this level, to find players to fill in the gaps over the long haul when the parent club is wrecked by injuries.

John, I was wondering if you have heard any rumblings about the "annual" Bears golf outing yet? Last years was such a good time and this year I want to bring my son. We had such a good time interacting with all of the

players last year, it made the season seem a little more personable. I would also like to take this time to thank the Bears organization for having the players being out in the community and being seen and heard. Having spent time in Toledo OH, home of the Storm and in Flint MI, home of the Generals, it is nice to see the players involved in the community. I wish all the Bears players, staff & office personnel a good and restful off season and look forward to a long season and playoff run this up coming year. Go Bears!

Brian Cobb

Manheim

Brian, the 2nd annual HERSHEY BEARS Golf Classic will happen in early October again, with dates and times to be announced. For those of you who missed it last year, we had one heck of a time with all the players and fans coming together for a great day of golf to benefit a great cause in Shalom House. We'll probably have all the details finalized in a few weeks, keep an eye on the website for all the scoop. Look forward to having you back this year!

John,

Do you think players like Steve Brule, Pascal Trepanier, Gavin Morgan will be back next season? I know we lost key players since Tampa is no longer with us and these are excellent play makers for the bears. I'm from South Jersey and go to as many bears games as possible. Im looking forward to going to more this season because of the NHL lockout. Well hope I did not take up to much of your time. Good luck and cant wait for the 04-05 season to start.

Mike Petrella

Seaville, New Jersey

Mike, one guy that won't be back is Pascal Trepanier. Trep signed a contract to play in Germany next season. Gavin is unsigned at the moment, but could still return. I haven't heard much either way about Brule up to the moment. Bru would be a tough fit under the new veteran rule because Dennis Bonvie is expected to be our "exempt" veteran for next season. There are only five veteran spots now instead of six, so we'll have to see what the free agency period brings starting Thursday. Just as a matter of information, Morgan is a veteran as well now.

Hello John.

John, any updates on the health and future of Steve Moore?

Has there been any talk about the status of D.J. Smith and whether or not he will be back?

Any word from Mike Foligno and how was his first season away from the AHL?

Thanks

Art Smith

Lancaster

Art, the word I hear on Steve Moore is that he is progressing very well. I'm sure we'll know more as we get closer to training camp, but hopefully he is able to lace up with everyone else at the beginning. As for D.J. Smith, there is a very good chance he could return if he is medically sound. If he's back to normal, he's certainly one of the best heart and soul kind of guys that Paul Fixter could throw out there. Finally, Mike had a pretty good first year with the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League. He took a team that missed the playoffs altogether last season and got them an invite to the OHL dance this season. Sudbury lost a first round series to Toronto St. Michaels (Peter Budaj's old team, by the way) four games to three to finish the season, but St. Mike's finished first in the regular season so there was no shame in that. I would fully expect Sudbury to continue to improve with Foligno at the helm. Mike keeps in touch with everyone around here, and certainly carries himself with a lot of class on and off the ice to this day.

News and signings as they happen starting Thursday, keep an eye on the website for the latest scoop. Talk to ya next week!

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American Hockey League Stories from June 29, 2004


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